在耶路撒冷的辩护

过了十四年,我与巴拿巴一起再次上耶路撒冷,并且带着提多一起去。 我是照着启示上去的,向他们陈述了我在外邦人中所传的福音,不过是单独地向那些公认是人物的做了陈述,免得我过去或是现在所奔跑的都落了空[a] 与我在一起的提多,虽然是希腊人,也没有被迫受割礼。 其实提到这件事[b],是因着一些偷偷进来的假弟兄的缘故;他们混进来窥视我们在基督耶稣里所拥有的自由,为了要奴役我们。 我们对这些人,一刻也没有屈服妥协,好使福音的真理在你们中间继续存留。

至于那些公认是人物的——无论他们从前什么样,都对我没有区别;神不以外貌取人。那些公认是人物的并没有给我增添什么; 不过他们反而看出来:我受了委托去传福音给没有受割礼的人,正如彼得受了委托去传福音给受割礼的人, 因为在彼得里面做工、使他做受割礼之人使徒的那一位,也在我里面做工、使我做外邦人的使徒。 公认是柱石的雅各矶法约翰,既然明白了神所赐给我的恩典,就向巴拿巴和我伸出右手行契合之礼[c],要我们往外邦人那里去,而他们往受割礼的人那里去; 10 只是要我们记得穷人,而这一点也正是我一向努力做的。

从律法下得自由

11 不过矶法[d]来到安提阿的时候,我曾当面抵挡他,因为他有该责备的地方。 12 原来,从雅各那里来的一些人到达之前,矶法与外邦人一起吃饭;可是那些人一到,他因为怕那些割礼派的人[e],就退缩,与外邦人分开了。 13 其余的犹太人也跟着他装假,以致连巴拿巴也被他们的伪善引入歧途。 14 但我一看见他们的行为不符合福音的真理,就在大家面前对矶法[f]说:“你身为犹太人,如果像外邦人而不像犹太人那样生活,怎么还要强求外邦人像犹太人一样呢?”

15 我们生来是犹太人,不是“外邦中的罪人”, 16 不过我们知道:人被称为义不是本于律法上的行为,而是藉着信耶稣基督。于是我们信了基督耶稣,为要因信基督称义,而不是本于律法上的行为,因为没有一个人[g]本于律法上的行为会被称为义。 17 但如果我们自己寻求在基督里被称为义,却被发现还是罪人,那么,难道基督就成了罪的仆人吗?绝对不是! 18 因为我如果重建自己以前所拆毁的,就证明我是违犯律法的人。 19 原来藉着律法,我已经向律法死了,使我能向神活着。我已经和基督一起被钉十字架, 20 所以现在活着的不再是我,而是基督在我里面活着;并且如今我在肉体中活着,是因信神的儿子而活;他爱我,甚至为我舍弃了自己。 21 我不弃绝神的恩典,因为义如果是藉着律法而来的,那么,基督就白白地死了。

Footnotes

  1. 加拉太书 2:2 免得我过去或是现在所奔跑的都落了空——或译作“这样,我过去或是现在就不会白白奔跑了”。
  2. 加拉太书 2:4 提到这件事——辅助词语。
  3. 加拉太书 2:9 伸出右手行契合之礼——原文直译“伸出右手的契合”。
  4. 加拉太书 2:11 矶法——有古抄本作“彼得”。
  5. 加拉太书 2:12 割礼派的人——指“那些主张外邦人也必须受割礼的人”;或译作“受割礼的人”。
  6. 加拉太书 2:14 矶法——有古抄本作“彼得”。
  7. 加拉太书 2:16 人——原文直译“肉体”。

众使徒接纳保罗

十四年后,我和巴拿巴又去耶路撒冷,并带了提多同去。 我是遵照上帝的启示去的。我私下拜会了那些有名望的教会领袖,陈明我在外族人中间所传的福音,免得我过去或是现在的努力都白费了。 跟我同去的提多虽然是希腊人,但没有人勉强他接受割礼。

事情的缘由是因为有一些假信徒偷偷混了进来,要窥探我们在基督耶稣里享有的自由,想叫我们做律法的奴隶。 但为了叫福音的真理常在你们当中,我们丝毫没有向他们妥协。

至于那些德高望重的教会领袖,他们的地位对我来说无关紧要,因为上帝不以貌取人。他们对我所传的并没有增加什么。 相反,他们都已看到,上帝差遣了我向外族人传福音,就像祂差遣了彼得向犹太人传福音一样。 上帝感动了彼得,呼召他做犹太人的使徒,祂也同样感动了我,呼召我做外族人的使徒。 当时被誉为教会柱石的雅各、彼得和约翰明白了上帝赐给我的恩典之后,就与我和巴拿巴用右手行相交之礼,让我们向外族人传福音,他们向受割礼的人传福音。 10 他们只要求我们照顾那些贫困的人,这正是我一向热衷的事。

保罗面责彼得

11 后来,彼得到了安提阿,因他做错了事,我就当面责备他。 12 从雅各那里来的人还没有抵达之前,彼得和外族的信徒一起吃饭。但那些人抵达以后,彼得因为怕那些坚持行割礼的犹太人批评,就与外族的信徒分开了。 13 其他的犹太基督徒也跟着彼得装假,甚至连巴拿巴也随从了他们的虚伪。 14 我看见他们不照福音的真理行,就当众对彼得说:“你身为犹太人,如果行事为人像外族人,不像犹太人,又怎能强迫外族人按犹太人的规矩生活呢?”

15 我们生来是犹太人,不是外族罪人, 16 但我们知道人被称为义人不是靠遵行律法,而是靠信耶稣基督。所以我们信了基督耶稣,以便因信基督而被称为义人,而不是靠遵行律法,因为无人能够靠遵行律法而被称为义人。 17 如果我们指望在基督里被称为义人,结果却仍是罪人,难道基督助长罪恶吗?当然不是!

18 倘若我重建我所拆毁的东西,就表明我是罪人。 19 事实上,我因无法满足律法的要求而向律法死了,不再受它的束缚,使我可以为上帝而活。 20 我已经与基督一同被钉在十字架上,现在活着的不再是我,而是基督活在我里面。我现在是靠信上帝的儿子而活着,祂爱我,为我舍命。 21 我不废弃上帝的恩典,倘若靠遵行律法可以成为义人,基督的死便毫无意义了。

Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.